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Patent Litigation Associate Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Patent Agent

Minneapolis, MN · Remote

$100K - $170K/yr

Husch Blackwell LLP is a full-service litigation and business law firm with multiple locations ... The Patent Agent will collaborate with a team of patent agents, associates, and partners within the ...

... associates, or outside counsel. Independently obtain data and compose detailed ... litigation. Emphasize cost‐efficiency by maintaining a proficient workflow, closely monitoring ...

Patent Administrator

Maplewood, MN · On-site

$74K - $91K/yr

... patent liaisons, foreign associates, or outside counsel. * Independently obtaining data and ... litigation. * Emphasizing cost-efficiency by maintaining proficient workflow, closely monitoring ...

... patent liaisons, foreign associates, or outside counsel. * Independently obtaining data and ... litigation. * Emphasizing cost-efficiency by maintaining proficient workflow, closely monitoring ...

Patent Litigation Associate information

What does a Patent Litigation Associate do?

A Patent Litigation Associate is a lawyer who specializes in handling legal disputes involving patents. They work with clients to enforce or defend patent rights in court, draft legal documents, conduct research on patent laws and prior art, and assist in all stages of litigation from pre-trial investigations to trial and appeals. These associates collaborate with inventors, experts, and other attorneys to build strong cases and protect intellectual property. Their work requires a solid understanding of both law and technology.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Patent Litigation Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Patent Litigation Associate, you need a strong background in intellectual property law, excellent legal research and writing skills, and typically a J.D. degree with bar admission. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, case management software, and sometimes a technical or scientific background are important assets. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication with clients and teams distinguish top performers. These skills ensure precise case strategy, efficient case management, and successful advocacy in complex patent disputes.

What is the difference between Patent Litigation Associate vs Patent Prosecutor?

AspectPatent Litigation AssociatePatent Prosecutor
Primary FocusHandling patent disputes, lawsuits, and infringement casesPreparing and filing patent applications, securing patent rights
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, corporate legal departments, courtsPatent offices, law firms, corporate IP departments
Required CredentialsJD, bar admission, technical backgroundJD, bar admission, technical background
Industry UsageLegal disputes and litigationPatent application and portfolio management

The main difference between a Patent Litigation Associate and a Patent Prosecutor lies in their focus: the former specializes in litigating patent disputes, while the latter concentrates on obtaining and maintaining patent rights through application processes. Both roles require similar credentials and often work within the same industry sectors, but their daily tasks and career paths differ significantly.

What are some common challenges faced by Patent Litigation Associates during the discovery phase?

Patent Litigation Associates often encounter challenges in managing large volumes of technical documents and deciphering complex patent language during the discovery phase. Coordinating with clients, experts, and opposing counsel to identify relevant materials requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Balancing tight deadlines while ensuring compliance with court procedures can also be demanding, but this phase offers valuable opportunities to develop expertise in both legal analysis and technical subject matter.
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Infographic showing various Patent Litigation Associate job openings in Minnesota as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 67% Full Time, 30% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution.

IP Litigation Associate Attorney - Minneapolis

Current Opportunities: Stinson LLP Law Firm

Minneapolis, MN

$215K - $275K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Stinson LLP is seeking a highly motivated Intellectual Property Litigation Associate attorney to join its Minneapolis office.

The attorney will work with Stinson's intellectual property litigators in Minneapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City, as well as across the firm. The attorney will work on a wide variety of patent, trademark, copyright, unfair competition, and trade secret cases and receive training from experienced trial attorneys. The preferred candidate should have experience representing clients in intellectual property litigation and/or post grant review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and be motivated to take an active role in matters, including managing ESI collection and production, taking and defending depositions, analyzing patents and prior art, drafting claim charts, collaborating on expert reports, drafting substantive motions, and preparing for and assisting in hearings and trial.

Qualifications          

  • Juris Doctor degree.
  • 3+ years of experience in intellectual property litigation, especially patent litigation, or complex federal court litigation.
  • Excellent academic credentials and excellent research, writing, analytical, organizational, and communication skills are required.
  • Ability to work well under pressure, multi-task efficiently and be an independent thinker.
  • Undergraduate degree in science or engineering a plus
  • Patent Bar eligibility a plus
  • Clerkship experience a plus
  • Licensed to practice law in Minnesota or able to become licensed in Minnesota required.

Our associate attorney compensation structure has two components: (1) a base salary and (2) a discretionary merit bonus based on performance. The base salary range for this role is $215,000 – 275,000. The salary range for this position is based on a variety of factors, including experience, skills, qualifications, and location. The range is provided as an initial approximation at the time of posting and may vary based on the individual’s unique qualifications and experience.

Applicants should provide a resume, cover letter, law school transcript, and writing sample.

Please apply online at https://www.stinson.com/careers-current-opportunities. For questions, contact recruiting@stinson.com.

For more information about Stinson, visit us at http://www.stinson.com and the NALP Directory of Legal Employers, https://www.nalpdirectory.com.

Stinson LLP is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran, disabled, and other diverse candidates to apply to be considered for open positions. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package. We conduct criminal background checks on all individuals offered employment. Information gathered through applicant voluntary self-identification will be used for statistical reporting and to measure the effectiveness of our EEO outreach efforts. All information is requested on a voluntary basis and will be kept confidential. We will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

Applicants with a disability that are in need of an accommodation to complete the Stinson LLP application process should contact Human Resources at 316.268.7962 or email stinson.humanresources@stinson.com.